Women’s panel asks Twitter to block actor Siddharth’s account after his tweet about Saina Nehwal
The actor had responded to the badminton champion’s tweet about the prime minister’s convoy being stuck on a flyover in Punjab.
The National Commission for Women on Monday said it has written to Twitter India to block actor Siddharth’s account over his tweet about badminton player Saina Nehwal.
Nehwal, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party last year, had on January 5 expressed concern about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convoy being stuck for several minutes on a flyover in Punjab. The Centre had said that the incident was a “major security lapse”.
In her tweet Nehwal had said: “No nation can claim itself to be safe if the security of its own PM gets compromised. I condemn, in the strongest words possible, the cowardly attack on PM Modi by anarchists.”
In his reply to this post, Siddharth made a seemingly sexual slur.
On Monday, National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma criticised Siddharth’s tweet. “This man needs a lesson or two,” she said in a tweet. “Twitter India why this person’s account still exists? Taking it up with concerned police.”
A few hours later, the women’s panel said it has written to Twitter India seeking to block Siddharth’s account and to take action against him for posting such comments.
The National Commission for Women also said it has written to the Maharashtra director general of police to investigate the matter and register a first information report in the case.
@NCWIndia has taken cognisance. Chairperson @sharmarekha has written to @DGPMaharashtra for investigating & registering FIR in the matter. NCW has also written to @TwitterIndia for blocking the actor’s account & to take appropriate action against him for posting such remarks. https://t.co/pW1hT9zz6W
— NCW (@NCWIndia) January 10, 2022
Nehwal on Monday said the actor could have used “better words” to comment on the matter.
“Yeah, I’m not sure what he meant,” Nehwal said in a statement. “I used to like him as an actor but this was not nice. He can express himself with better words but I guess it’s Twitter and you remain noticed with such words and comments.”
As a controversy erupted, Siddharth said that he did not mean to disrespect anyone and his tweet contained no kind of insinuation.
“Cock and bull,” he said. “That’s the reference. Reading otherwise is unfair and leading.”
BJP leader Khushbu Sundar, singer Chinmayi Sripaada and other social media users criticised the actor.
“Sid you are a friend but definitely wasn’t expecting this from you,” Sundar said. “It’s very crass. I am sure uncle and aunty wouldn’t be proud of you. Don’t get carried with your hatred towards an individual.”
Sripaada also said that Siddharth’s comments are “really crass”.
Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said the actor’s remarks are “absolutely unacceptable” and called for civility in public discourse.